THE GIRLS OF SKYLARK LANE by Robin Benway

 

I'm a big Robin Benway fan! I will be recommending THE GIRLS OF SKYLARK LANE to fellow readers and especially middle grade teachers for their students. I was hooked on page one by the quirky characters and the Benway's humor which continued to shine throughout.

 

Twins Aggie and Jac, along with their dads, have just moved from northern California to Los Angeles. The girls are nervous about making friends and starting at a new school. As they pull up in front of their new house, their pet rat makes an amazing escape that attracts the attention of the neighbors. This dramatic entrance ends up being a great ice breaker as far as making friends is concerned.

School starts off well, including an invitation to play baseball with the other girls in the neighborhood. It is a strange pick-up team situation that fits perfectly for Aggie and Jac. Readers will be entertained by the antics of the neighbors, the relationship Aggie and Jac have with their dads, and surprises like meeting a young lemonade stand entrepreneur whose mother is actually famous.

Author Robin Benway fills this quick read with family drama, teenage girl issues, first crushes, and even sudden wildfire danger. It is perfect for middle grade classrooms and library collections.

SPARK by Chris Baron

 

Finn and his best friend Rabbit love their community. Situated in California near the forest surrounded by trees and wildlife, they can wander and adventure anytime. Finn's father, recently out of work, has been hired to help clear land and prepare it for a development. The creators of the development are promising new jobs and new homes, but people know that it will interfere with the current status of the community.

When a sudden wildfire erupts, everyone's lives and homes are at risk. Finn and his family hit the road to evacuate. When it's time to return, they learn their home was spared, but many around them weren't so lucky. Finn and Rabbit believe they might know a potential cause of the fire, but telling won't make them very popular.

Now it's time to rebuild. The locals are hoping to rebuild what was already there, but the construction company has other ideas. Will Finn's dad be able to continue working, or will he decide the big company doesn't have the best interests of the environment in mind?

SPARK is a novel in verse that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Tense scenes set during the fire reveal the danger and fear of Finn and the others living there. The loss faced by many is staggering. Facts about climate change and its impact on the land and forest inspire some and fall on deaf ears for others looking to profit by changing the land. SPARK is a necessary book that should be in classroom and library collections.

A KIND OF SPARK by Elle McNicoll

 

When Addie learns about the history of the witch trials that happened in her town, she is fascinated. The lives of the women accused of witchcraft often ended tragically. This was particularly upsetting to Addie who is autistic. She imagined these women to be much like her - misunderstood because they were different.

Addie's older sister Keedie is also autistic. She has helped Addie navigate in a world where she isn't always welcome. Addie is always full of questions which constantly annoys her teacher who loses patience quickly. Keedie understands that, too, since she had the same teacher when she was in Addie's grade.

Addie believes that everyone should realize the tragedy of the witch trials, so she begins a campaign to get the town council to erect a plaque in remembrance of the women. With the help of a new friend and her family, Addie speaks up at the town meeting to present her idea. It quickly becomes clear that not everyone feels like she does, and Addie is faced with spreading the word and appearing at numerous meetings to convince people.

Author Elle McNicoll, who is also neurodivergent, uses her personal experience to influence her characters. Her realistic depiction of life on the spectrum should fascinate and inform readers of all ages.

BAND NERD by Sarah Clawson Willis & Emma Cormarie

 

Seventh grader Lucy Carver has fallen in love with playing the flute. At her old school last year, she played first chair all year. Now she is attending a school for the arts and everything is harder. She practices constantly hoping to land in first chair again. All the practicing hasn't been successful though. She's stuck in second chair.

All her practicing is taking a toll on her grades and even her friendships. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to study, hang out with her friends, and take care of her responsibilities at home. It would be easier if things at home were going smoother. Her father lost his job because of a drinking problem that has landed him in rehab multiple times. His up and down moods aren't helping Lucy keep up with what it takes to succeed in her new school, and she begins making bad choices.

This graphic novel by Sarah Clawson Willis, illustrated by Emma Cormarie, is perfect for anyone who is or has been a "band nerd." Full of family drama, school pressure, and life expectations, BAND NERD needs to be in every classroom and library collection.

FOREVER, OR A LONG, LONG TIME by Caela Carter

 

Flora and Julian have lived with Person for three years. Since they came to her, she has adopted them, and she has gotten married, so they also now have a dad. They are happy, but there are still things missing from their lives. 

They hear other kids talk about the stories their parents tell about their birth and the many wonderful baby pictures their parents show off. Flora and Julian don't have those birth stories or the baby pictures. Convinced that they began some other way, they feel lost when it comes to their origin stories.

Flora has trouble using her words to express her sadness. Julian wears a crazy, fake smile to cover up his sadness. He also hides food in his closet because he remembers living in foster homes that didn't feed him enough. Person tries to explain that she loves them and will forever, but it isn't easy to convince them. With her help they go on the search for where and how they began. 

Author Caela Carter explores the foster care system and the fact that everyone has their own origin stories and their own family structure. Full of emotional ups and downs, FOREVER, OR A LONG, LONG TIME is sure to touch the hearts of readers middle grade and up. 

GOING OVERBOARD by Caroline Huntoon

 

What happens when your mother finds a girlfriend, and it looks like it's getting serious? Piper Shapiro has the best mom. When Piper came out as nonbinary, there couldn't have been a more supportive person in zir corner. Recently, things are looking like there may be a change.

It starts the day Piper's mother announces they will be going to lunch with Gwinny and her son. Lunch with the new girlfriend shouldn't be too bad, but meeting the son could be uncomfortable. When it turns out the son is Colton, a sixth grader in Piper's class, it is definitely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, Gwinny invites them on a four day cruise.

Piper immediately begins hatching a plan to break up the couple before things get too serious. Surprisingly, Colton is onboard with the plan. Together, they concoct all sorts of mischief to induce stress on the vacation. Will the plan work? In the end, do they even want it to work?

Author Caroline Huntoon displays their trademark humor in the fast-paced romantic adventure. Perfect for middle grade readers looking for fun and unusual friendships.

FREE PERIOD by Ali Terese

 

This is a perfect middle grade book for readers looking to make a statement about equity. In this case it is period equity. All girls or anyone who menstruates should have free access to sanitary products, especially at school.

Best friends Helen and Gracie didn't have period equity in mind when they were planning their latest prank. It was almost the end of the year which meant they needed the greatest prank ever. When their "stinky stunt" ends up with them in the principal's office, they find themselves being told they have to find something to care about.

Helen and Gracie end up joining the Community Action Club. They are thrilled when they learn that Madison, their least favorite person, is in charge. During the first meeting, they listen to Madison's idea about providing period products for girls. Since the two friends can relate to this issue on a personal level, they decide to jump into promoting the plan with ideas of their own.

Author Ali Terese takes readers on a wild ride in FREE PERIOD. Helen and Gracie get into hot water more than once, and Madison begins to fear their radical ideas. Full of fun and antics, the general idea behind period equity is a good one and might just be something others would like to embrace.